Warning-signal for street-cars.



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F. A. PPANNENSGHMIDT.

WARNING SIGNAL FOR STREET CABS. APPLICATION FILED JAN.16, 1911.

1,,O3,730.- Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH 00.,WASHXNG10N D c FFC FREDERICK A. PFANNENSCHMIDT,OF DETROIT, 1VIICHIGAN,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WALTER, R lVIACADAM, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, FREDERIOK A. PFAN- NENSCHMIDT, citizen of the United.States, residing at'Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigam'haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Warning-Sig 'nals forStreet-Cars, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescriptlon a warning signal to be displayed from the rear of the carand under the control of the motorman, to indicate the approach of a caron the adjacent track that passengers alighting fro-m the car. or othersattempting to pass back of the car may be warned of an approachingcan-the construction providing both an audible and visible warningsignal. I g

In the drawings accompanying this speci-. fication: Figure l is a detailview of the device with parts broken away and in section, alsoindicating a fragmentary portion of the front and rear platforms andframe of the car upon which the device is mounted. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of a car indicating the signal arm raised to warn againstcrossing the adjacent track. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the tubularsignal arm, a cover plate attached to its wall being removed to disclosethe dash pot buffer check housed within the arm. Fig. 4 is a detail ofthe dash pot check in longitudinal section. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectionalview through the tubular signal arm indicating the electric light bulbshoused therein. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fragment of the signal armmounted in its supporting hanger, also the switch carried thereby forclosing the electric circuit in order that the arm may be lighted andthe electric hell or buzzer sounded. I

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings :Aindicates the front, and B the rear platform of the car.

0 is one of the sills or frame of the car, and D is the rear dash board.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 16, 1911. Serial No. 602,827.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

E is thebifurcated hanger secured to the dash in which is journaled thetubular signal arm F.

F is the shaft on which the arm is mounted, and F 2 is a crank arm foractuating said shaft.

f is a weight secured to the end of the arm todassist in'counterbalancing its opposite en G is a bell-crank pivoted in asuitable supporting bracket secured to the frame C.

is a rod connecting the crank arm F with the bell-crank G,the rod beingprovided with a suitable turnbuckle by which it may be adjusted shouldit become necessary through wear or for other reasons.

H is a lever journaled in a segmental frame H secured to the floor ofthe front platform and in convenient position for op eration by themotorman.

H is a spring actuated dog. adapted to enter notches provided in thesegmental frame H,the dog being under the control of the handoperatedreleasing rod 72.

I is a rod connecting the bell-crank lever G with the swinging lever H;

I is a turnbuckle by which the rod may be adjusted.

'J is a switch adapted to be actuated upon raising the signal armthereby closing the circuit (not shown) to the electric bell or buzzerK, whereby the bell may be sounded and the signal arm illuminated,theletters of the warning sign being preferably cut out of the side wallsof the arm that the warning notice may more easily be read at night.

L is a dash pot check supported between the walls of the signal arm atits free end. L is its piston, and L a. projecting rod provided with aknob at its outer end adapted to contact with the buffer plate L securedto the dash of the car.

M is a spring to force the piston to the limit of its stroke when thearm is raised to its horizontal position.

f is a cover plate secured to the wall of the arm by removing whichaccess may be had to the check L.

N is a hood secured to the dash of the car designed to inclose the upperend of the signal arm, protecting the latter against the effects oftheweather and guarding against injury to passengers or others throughcarelessness in handling the parts.

Having indicated the several parts by reference letters, the operationof the device will be readily understood. I Vhen stopping at a crossing,and upon the approach of a car on the adjacent track, the motorman willrock the lever H to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2,thereby raising the signal arm F to a horizontal position by means ofthe connecting rods G and I, and levers F and G,-the weight f reducingthe effort required to raise the arm jar that the arm would otherwisesustain upon dropping to the position indicated, the check L is provided:-the rod L of which upon contacting with the bulier plate L serves toforce back the piston L in the cylinder compressing the air therein,thereby reducing the jar as will be readily understood. The spring Mserves to force the piston to the limit of its stroke ready for the nextoperation when the arm is raised to its horizontal position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 2- 1. In combinationwith a car, a bifurcated bracket secured to the car, a hollow swingingsignal arm having its inner end pivotally mounted within the bifurcationof the bracket, spring contact fingers secured to the car and disposedwithin the bifurcation of the bracket, electric lamps carried within thehollow signal arm, electric circuits leading to said lamps, a switchblade carried by the inner end of the signal arm and so positionedthereon as to engage between the spring contact fingers on the car whenthe signal arm is swung to horizontal position, means to swing andretain the arm in a horizontal position, and a hood secured to the rearend of the car and partly inclosing the inner end of the signal arm.

2. In combination with a car, a hollow signal arm pivotally mounted atits inner end on the car and normally disposed in a vertical position, acounterbalancing weight carried by the inner end of the arm, springcontact fingers secured to the car, a switch blade carried by thecounterbalancing weight on the inner end of the signal arm andpositioned to be out of contact with the spring fingers when the signalarm is in its normal position, an electric lamp in the signal arm, anelectric circuit leading to the lamp, and means for raising the signalarm to horizontal position and swinging the switch blade between thecontact fingers for closing the circuit to the lamp.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

FREDERICK A. PFANNENSCHMIDT.

Witnesses:

GRACE E. WVYNKooP, SAMUEL E. THOMAS.

Copies of this natent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing. the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i

